Arch support



April 24, 192s. .1,667,359

. E. SESSLER ARCH SUPPORT Filed June 9, 1926 Patented. Apr. 24,1928.V

i *UNITED ATES QFFI'CEA l *,EUGENE sEssLEmoFcHIcAGo. v,IL1.i1\n:Is,.\ 1,

f non sUrPoar.

I f limitation 'ined Jini' j a', This invention relates to 4asupport 'forythe arch of an ailing ory wwe-aki; foot, itspurpose being kto relieve anysuffering thereof, and

also to a-nielioiate conditions which require f correction. .j y ,Y y y For its objects my invention aims topprovide asuppoi't `of the kind described which'- be adjusted lengthwise longitudinally there of Awhereby to vary the height of t-he arch which is provided. In addition, the cushion is upwardly extended upon the instepside to provide a saddle which exerts a desired pressure upon the arch. Features such `as these, a well as others to be hereinafter set forth, characterize my invention of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in the manner following:`

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the arch support;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a'bottom plan view of the device; Fig. 4 is a transverse section therethrough on Lline 4 4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detail in section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

The present support combines in its structure an arched metallic plate A which un- V derlies a cushion B preferably of selected sole leather. As appears best in Fig. 3,.tlie plate A which extends longitudinally of the cushion is forked at its forward end to provide a pair of diverging arms 6 each of which '45 is tixedly connected as by rivets 7 withy the top cushion near its forward edge. The support is designed to extend from beyond the heel of the foot to a point just forwardlyvof the ball thereof which latter will bear upon the cushion just rearwardly of the connecting rivets 7. i

Rearwardly of the forked arms and substantially midway of its length, the plate is weakened by the provision of slots 8 which extend preferably in a longitudinal direction, as shown in Fig. 3. These slots are 1926.1v aerial;Nolliigtcuff i i vlocatedappibxiiiiately `at the highest point in the arch so as to vgive desired flexibility to; the eupportl at'` thatpoint. ,the "instep ,theyk plate is'upwardly curved ,as at 9. (seetFig. 4) to provide a" saddle, the top cushion' being similarly curved fin k"conse-14 quence. UDue to the presen'ce of thissaddle a reinforcement is 'p rovidedjfor the instep both laterallyand upon its' underside.y j vAttl'ierear end of jth'e'isiipportan'jadjusb. a'lole connection is made between the 'plate and its cushion. As shown inthe drawing this comprises a block lO'which 4is accominodated in a recess extending longitudinally of thefcushion, a flange 11 projecting laterally from the block in flush relation with the upper side of the cushion so as to permit removal of the block from that side only. Formed in this block are a pluralityY of threaded openings 12 within any one of` which may be secured a screw 13 which passes through an opening 14 in the plate to `present its flat headush with the under plater side. By providingseveralsuch block openings,` spaced apart slightly different than the openings in the arched plate, I am-v enabledto adjust the cushion support for disposition 1n `various arcs and at various elevations.

With Vreference to the device in its entirety,

it will be noted that the twopoints of the fork are so shaped and disposed that the ball portion `of the foot may rest adjacent thereto in a proper and comfortable position. The tension of the arched plate may be properly adjusted to accord withthe weight of the user rand withv the size of the shoe which is worn. The top cushion is of substantially eventliickness throughout,k being skived to a thin ledge along its front, and also along the top of the saddle, if desired. In use, it will be found that the spring plate, working in conjunction ywith the top cushion, will afford to the `bones of the arch a natural movement and support suoli as is needful and beneficial in the treatment of weak archesor flat feet. Excess strain to the bones is relieved in this manner, as experience has demonstrated.

I claim: j n i 1. In. an arch support, the combination of an elongated spring platearched lengthwise and provided at its forward'end with divergiiig arms, the plate being slotted in the region of the arch center whereby to increase its flexibility at that point, a cushion supported by the plate and extending thereover n at every point7 means xedly connectingr the cushion to the plate at the forward ends of the two arms thereof, and other means adjustably securing the cushion to the'plate at a point adjacent the rear end thereof, ythe curvature of the arch in the plate being va-` riable according to adjustments in the con? neetion between the cushion and plate.

2. A foot appliance having in combination a flexible cushion of uniform thickness adapted to underlie the foot to a point forwardly of the ball thereof, and meanspro- Viding a. yielding reinforcement for the cush ion consisting of an elongated spring plate normally arched from end to end and underlying the cushion for the greater part of its length, the plate having at its forward end a pair of diverging arms betweenwhich the cushion is unsupported, slots in the plate in its region of the foot arch whereby the plate may Hex more easily at that point, and

ion in a manner to be removable only from its upper side, there being" a plurality of screw-threaded openings in the block, and.

other openings differently spaced in the plate, and a screw entered through one of the plate openings t0rengage1nent` within a selected opening of the block.

EUGENE SESSLER.` 

